The key to preventing bites, they say, is to learn to read your dog’s body language so you know when the dog is getting overwhelmed and can remove him from the situation before a bite occurs. Other important prevention tips include treating the dog humanely, providing proper nutrition, veterinary care, and training / socialization, and keeping your dog under your control such as by the use of a leash.
They also make note of the fact that dogs who are integrated into a family are much less likely to bite than those who are isolated on the property, but not allowed into the family home.
The 2nd edition of the Animals and Society policy paper, Dog Bites: Problems and Solutions is being released this month. It notes that the number of dog bites in this country has decreased since 2006, when the first edition came out, and those that do occur are generally less damaging than injuries resulting from run-ins with most common household objects. The paper discusses the link between animal husbandry practices and the incidence of dog bites, parlaying this information into strategies to minimize biting behaviors toward humans.
Many animal welfare position papers and other resources are available from the Animals and Society website.
Read the story that goes along with the above infographic on The Dogington Post.
Until next time,
Good day, and good dog!
As a parent and a dog lover, I find this piece an eye opener and very valuable.
Just the stuff I was looking for my next research.
Thank you!
I shared via social media